The Church of Scientology has been involved in battles over tax issues, a battle with the Food and Drug Administration, and conflicts with the Australian and German governments. In this book, a group of well-known scholars offer an overview and analysis of Scientology, including the controversies to which it continues to give rise.

Frank Kermode contributes a new epilogue to his collection of lectures on the relationship of fiction to age-old concepts of apocalyptic chaos and crisis.

Guiding the readers toward a life of noncommittal inertia, this book helps you discover how to become a sloth in your diet, exercise, work, and even love-life. Highlighting the importance of Lethargiosis - the process of eliminating energy and drive, the vital first step in becoming a sloth, it helps you attain the perfect state of indolent bliss.

This Very Short Introduction deals with the social life of language, presenting a succinct account of the most important aspects - both "micro" and "macro" - of sociolinguistics, such as language variation, language attitudes, and the relationship between language and identity.